Week: Introduction to the Kingdom of God
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Lord Jesus, we open our minds to learn new things, so that we know more about You. We open our hearts to be filled with Your love, so that we become more like You. And we open our hands to receive all we need to live our lives for You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Eli
Colossians 1:13
God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Colossians 1:13 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re returning to the prayer that Jesus taught his closest friends – we know it as ‘the Lord’s Prayer’, but this time we’re REFLECTING on one line in particular.
Read by Eli
Matthew 6:9-10
So when you pray, you should pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy. May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.’
Matthew 6:9-10 (NCV)
Maybe we’ve heard this line in the Lord’s Prayer before; ‘May your kingdom come and what you want be done.’ Or perhaps we’ve heard this version, ‘May your Kingdom come and your will be done.’ But have we ever wondered what these words mean? What are we actually saying to God when we pray this line?
In another version of the Bible, the author puts it like this, ‘Our Father in heaven, reveal who you are. Set the world right; do what’s best.’ (Matthew 6:8, MSG) God’s Kingdom comes when God puts things right, when God makes things the best that they can be, in our lives, and in the world too.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What have we seen or heard on the news recently that doesn’t feel right, that doesn’t seem like God’s best? Maybe where people are suffering or being treated unfairly?
We’re going to swap our ASK prayers around today, and start by praying for the places and the situations that we’ve just mentioned – where things aren’t right.
Heavenly Father, You are kind and You are merciful, but You are also just – You put things right. We ASK You to be with those who are suffering and those who are being treated unfairly. Comfort them and rescue them. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our world!
And now, let’s ask God to help us too.
Heavenly Father, we ASK You to put things right in our hearts too. We’re sorry for any unkind words we’ve said recently and any selfish behaviour too. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in us!
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Matthew 6:9-10
So when you pray, you should pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy. May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.’
Matthew 6:9-10 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we say YES to seeking first God’s Kingdom in our lives, to putting God first and living the way You show us to. We say YES ‘set the world right, do what’s best’ all around us.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Colossians 1:13
God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Colossians 1:13 (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Eli is 11 and lives in Melbourne, Victoria with his mum, dad and two younger sisters. He enjoys music, reading, riding his skateboard and playing soccer.
